Printing-press.



-No.'644,24 Patented Feb. 27, |900.

. J. E. cAPs.

l PRINTING PRESS.' (Application filed Dec. 5, 189B.)

., No. 644,24I. Patented Feb. 27, |900.

'J. EJCAPS.

PRINTING PRESS.

' (Application filed. Dec. 5. 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

E u D E N n J.

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PATENT lmNrlNe-eRsss.

SPECIFICATION forming fait of Letters Patent No. 644,241, datedretornar-y 27, Icod.' pploatioli led December 5, 1898. Serial No.698,329. (N0 mofll) T0 all wir/om it may' concern:

Be it known that I, JoIIN EDWARD CAPs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented a new and useful Printing-Press, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to a multicolor-printing attachment for presses,more especially designed for applying variously-colored stripes ordesigns, or both, to fancy Wrapping-paper and bag work. In this class ofprinters work it is desirable to apply trade-marks or designs and aplurality of stripes in various water-colors to the paper at the sametime that it is printed with an advertising card or cards, the latterbeing impressed in regular printers ink in order to give to the paper anappearance calculated to attract attention to the advertisement.

The primary object of the present improvement is to provide anattachment which may be used in connection with anysuitable press forprinting advertisements on wrapping-paper or bag-paper, and thisattachment is driven in unison with the impression devices of the press,so that the operation of applying in Water-colors the variously-tintedstripes or the designs may be carried on simultaneously with the work ofprinting the advertisement in ordinary ink on paper.

A further object of the invention is to provide means by which stripesor designs in various colors may be applied, and such stripingappliances are held normally under tension to impart uniformity to theWork. Vith the striping appliances is combined a means for throwing themout of operation simultaneously.

A further object of the invention is to make provision for applying inwater-colors a design or designs and to make the design-rolls adjustableon their actuating-shafts in order to apply the different designs atdifferent places on the work. Such design-printing or striping rolls arereadily detachable from their supporting and actuating shafts for thepurpose o f interchanging the rolls having one design with other rollshaving designs in striping faces of different characters.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combinationof elements and in the construction and arrangement of parts, which willbe hereinafter fully described and claimed. p

To enable others to understand the inven-` tion, I have illustrated apreferred embodiment of the same in the accompanying draw ings, forminga part of this specification, and in Which- Figure 1 is a side elevationof an ordinary press with my multicolor striping and designprintingattachment applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view with parts in section.Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the stripingfountain and theparts associated therewith. Figa is a vertical longitudinal sectionthrough the striping-fountain illustrated by Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of one set of the designrolls. Fig. 6 is across-section thereof on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. '7 is alongitudinal sectional elevation on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is adetail perspective view of one of the design-rolls. Fig. 9 isa plan viewof a fragment of paper printed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 10is a detail view of one of the inking-rolls to one of thedesign-printing rolls.

Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in eachof the several figures of the drawings.

An ordinary single press adapted to receive my multicolor-printingattachment is represented by Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, referringmore particularly to which the frame- Work'is indicated by the numerall. The impression-cylinder 2 is in active relation to theprintingcylinder 3, which is supplied from the inking-rolls 4, one ofwhich engages with a supply-roll 5 in the fountain 6. All these devicesare ordinary in the art, and no novelty therefor is herein claimed.

While my invention is represented in connection with a singleprinting-press of the character shown, I would have it understood thatthe attachment is not to be restricted to this particular type of press,because I may use the attachment in connection with other styles ofpresses, as will lbe readily understood by those skilled in the art.

All of the operating parts of my attachment are mounted in or carriedbya suitable framework, one style of which is represented by the numeral10 as applied to the bench of ICO the press-frame 1, to which it issecured by bolts or other suitable means. This frame is shown as havingthe standards 11 12, arranged in diverging positions to accommodate thedesign-printing rolls and the inking-rolls therefor by which water-colorink is supplied to said design-rolls, and this frame 10is also providedin advance of the standards 11 12 with the short posts 13, adapted tosupport the pivotal shaft for a series of striping-fountains, as willpresently appear.

The paper which is to be printed is contained in a roll adapted to beplaced on a supply-roll shaft 14:, journaled in suitable bearings on thepress-frame 1, below the iinpression-cylinder, which coacts with thewater-color-printing devices. The paper-web passes overilnpression-cylinders, a frictioncylinder, and a guide-roll to arewindingshaft 15, which is supported in bearings on that side of thepress-frame opposite to the feed-roll shaft 14, and both of these shafts14 15 may be supported in bearings on the press-frame, which bearingsmay be constructed in any manner approved by those skilled in the artfor the ready insertion or removal of said shafts.

16 designates the im pression-cylinder which coacts with thedesign-rolls of the watercolor-printing attachment. The shaft of thisroll isjournaled in suitable bearings on the frame 10, and toa-protruding end of the iinpression-cylinder shaft 17 is rigidly secureda sprocket-wheel 18, with which engages a sprocket-chain 19, thatextends to and around 'a sprocket-wheel 20, firmly secured to one end ofthe shaft supporting the impressioncylinder 2. The sprocket-wheels 18 20on the shafts of the impression-cylinders 16 2, respectively, are ofequal diameter and contain the same number of teeth, and theimpression-cylinder 16 is thus adapted to be driven in unison with andto have the same peripheral speed as the impression-cylinder2 of thepress.

The impression-cylinder 16 is of large diameter as compared with thedesign-rolls, which are mounted on the shafts 21 22, which are journaledin bearings 23, slidably fitted in the standards of housings 11 12 ofthe attachment-frame. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 1, thedesign-rolls are of small diameter,

so that the impression-cylinder 16 will coact with the set ofdesign-rolls supported on the frame 10. The desi gn-rolls are suppliedwith water-color ink by the inking-rolls 2i, having their shafts mountedin bearings 25, slidably supported in slots of the housings or standards11 12, and these inking-rolls 2i may be supplied with the water-colorink from a fountain or fountains or other suitable source of supply.

Between the impression-cylinders 2 16 is arranged a horizontal friction-roll 26, the axis of which is parallel to the axes of theimpression-rolls, and this friction-roll has its shaft journaled in theattachment-frame 10 to lie adjacent to a series or striping-fountains.

Any desired number of striping-fountains may be supported on theattachment-frame 10, adjacent to the friction-roll 26; but in thedrawings I have represented a series of striping-fountains adapted tocarry different water-colors, the fountains which carry watercolor ofone tint being indicated by the numeral 27, and those fountains to carrywatercolor of another tint being designated at 28. The entire series ofstriping-fountains are carried bya pivotal shaft 29,which is mounted torock or turn in bearings on the posts 13, and these fountains areadapted to be adjusted with the shaft 29 for the purpose of elevatingthe same away from the friction-roll 26 and the path of thepaper webwhich passes over said roll, whereby the fountains may be thrown out ofoperative position. Each fountain is in the form, preferably, of arectangular or oblong box-like structure provided at its end adjacent tothe friction-roll 26 with a delivery-throat 30, and in this `throat isarranged afibrous wiper 31. The wiper 31 is a strip of any suitablefibrous material arranged in the fountain to have one end of said wiperpass through the throat 30 and protrude from the end of thefouutainadjacent to the friction-roll 26, and this protruding end of thefibrous wiper may be cut or otherwise fashioned according to the widthof the stripe orthe number of stripes which are to be applied to thepaperby the individual fountain. It is evident that the activeprotruding end of the wiper foreach fountain may be fashioned to give abroad stripe to the paper, or said protruding wiper end maybe cutwithaseries of incisions to make the wiper foreach fountain apply a nurnber--two, three, or more-of narrow stripesto the paper. In

order to hold the brouswiper in the fountain and supply the liquidlcoloring-mattei' thereto, I provide aiibrous pad 32, which may consistof a wad of absorbent material placedin the fountain near the throat 30thereof and confined in position and in engagementwith the Wiper by ascrew 33, which extends above the fountain and is supported in a lug orbearing 34 on the fountain. A hanger 35 is secured to the fountain at ornear its rear end, andthis hanger is fitted loosely on the shaft 29. Thehanger is provided with an arm 36, which extends rearwardly from theshaft, and extending upwardly from this arm is a stop-lug 37, which isadapted to contact with a tension-arm 38. This tension-arm is formedwith an eye 39 to enable said arm to be slipped on the shaft to lieadjacent to the fountain-hanger, and the tension-arm' supports abinding-screw 40, which is adapted to impinge against the shaft 20 andmake the tension-arm fast therewith. In the operative position of theseparts the fountain :is adjusted on the shaft to incline toward thefriction-roll 26, and the tension-arm fastened IOO IIO

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to be free from engagement with the stop-lug 37 on the hanger; but whenthe shaft 29 is rocked in its bearings in the direction indicated by thearrow in Fig. 1 the tension-arm engages With the stop-lug of the hanger,so as to turn or tilt the hanger on said shaft and make the hangerpartake of the continued movement of the shaft and the tension-arm,thereby raising the forward end of the fountain to lift the wiper fromthe path of the paper-Web passing over the friction -roll. It will thusbe seen that the fountain is adapted to be adjusted to partake of therocking move- -ment of the shaft and the tension-arm; but

at the same time the fountain is capable of a limited oscillatingmovement or play on the shaft 29. This limited play of the fountain isfor the purpose of enabling a spring 41 to normally press the fountainin a direction for its wiper to be pressed upon the paper, and thespring 41 is iittedto the arm 36 of the hanger and the tension-arm 38. Imay elnploy elastic bands to constitute the spring; but, if desired,coiled-wire springs or metallic leaf-springs may be substituted at theoption of the skilled constructor. The shaft 29, which supports theseries of striping-fountains, is designed to be adjusted by hand, and toenable such adjustment to be conveniently eiected I employ a lever-arm42, suitably attached to the shaft and projecting upwardly therefrom tobe within convenient reach of the attendant.

A guide-roll 43 is journaled in the pressframe below and adjacent to theimpressioncylinder 2, and the paper web after vpassing over thefriction-roll 26 is led beneath the guide-roll 43, around the latter, toand around the impression-cylinder 2, after which the web of paper isconducted to the rewindingshaft 15.

The design-rolls to be mounted on the shafts 21 22 are made of acomposition of rubber or other suitable material, and these rolls arecheaply constructed with the desired pattern, design, striping, ortrade-mark which is to be printed on the paper. Each of the shafts 21 or22 is intended to carry one or two of these design-rolls, and if a pairof rolls is fitted to each shaft they are constructed for rigidattachment to their shaft in a manner to per- Init a longitudinaladjustment of the rolls on said shaft. To this end I provide each rollwith a longitudinal keyway 46 to receive a key 47 of the shaft, and theroll may be slipped on the shaft to the desired position thereon. Eachrollis held in place by a pair of collars 49 50, which are fitted to theshaftat points adjacent to the ends of the rolls, and said collars havethe binding-screws 51 to impinge against the shaft and make the collarsfast therewith to hold the roll to the desired position. The pair ofrolls are held by their clamping-collars in spaced or separatedpositions on the shaft, as shown by Eig. 5. Each roll is represented inthe drawings as formed With a plurality of designs 48, arranged inlseries on the working surface of the roll and with the designs of oneseries in alternate or staggered relation to the designs of an adjacentseries; but I would have it understood that the arrangement of thedesigns on each roll and the character and nature of the designs may bevaried within wide limits.

To use the press, the fountains are supplied with ink. Ordinary printersink is placed in the press-fountain, while a mixture of Watercoloringmatter is placed in the stripingfountains and is adapted to be suppliedto the inking-rolls of the design-rolls carried by the shafts 21 22. Theroll of paper having been placed on the shaft 14, one end of the paperweb is carried around the impression-cylinder 16, over the friction-roll26, around the guide-roll 43, over the impression-cylinder 2, and thenceattached to the rewinding-shaft 15. The press having been set in motion,the web of paper is carried forward continuously, and it receives thetype-impression from the printing-cylinder 3, the impression of thedesigns from the designs-rolls 44 45, and is striped by the action ofthe wipers in the striping-fountains. These operations are carried oncontinuously and automatically, because the impression-cylinders operatein unison, and it is evident that Water-colors of different tints may besupplied to the stripingfountains to im part stripes of different colorsto the paper web. The springs or elastic bands act against thestriping-fountains to normally press the Wipers in firm Contact with thepaper web; but it is obvious that the operator may adjust the lever-arm42 to throw the entire series of striping-fountains out of the path ofthe paper web. In case it is desired to print the advertisement alone onthe paper web the sprocket-chain 19 may be disconnected from the gears18 2O and the lever-arm 42 held in a locked position to throw themulticolor-printing mechanism out of active relation to the paper web asit passes over the cylinder 16 and friction-roll26 to the ordinaryprinting devices of the press.

Although I have shown and described the Water-color-printing rolls ofsmaller diameter than the im pression-roll 16, which coacts With saidWater-color rolls, it is evident that the relative diameters of therolls may be changed by the skilled constructor.

In a multicolor-press in which the advertis` ing matter may be printedover the striped or ornamented surface of the Work it is necessary for'the ornamented design or striped impressions to become dry enough forthe work to receive the subsequent impression in printers ink, and thisend is attained in my invention by the employment of striping orornamenting printing mechanism which utilizes a. watercolor that isquickly absorbed by the paper or bag material and dries rapidly thereon.

Although I have disclosed the water-colorprinting mechanism as havingits printingrollers provided with suitable designs or trademarks, it iscontemplated by the invention to IOO IIO

make the watercolor-printing rolls with working faces adapted to applystripes, *polkadots, or any suitable ornamentation to the work. Theemployment of the water-colorprinting mechanism with rolls having theirWorking surfaces adapted to apply stripes to the work is especially welladapted for service when printing on a filled fabric or jute materialadapted for the manufacture of bags, and it will be understood that suchwatercolor-printing mechanism is employed in connection with an ordinaryprinting mechanism, so that the water-color-printing mechanism willapply the ornalnentation in one 'or different water-colors to the workbefore the card or advertisement is printed in ordinary printers ink onthe ornamented surface of the work, thus giving the water-color printingan opportunity to dry before the ordinary printers-ink impression ismade on the work.

Inview of the above it will be understood that an essential feature ofthe invention resides in the arrangement of the water-colorprintingmechanism, whereby the paper will first be printed or striped in colorsand then will be impressed over the colors with the ordinary type in theprinting-press. A reversal of this operation would be quiteimpracticable in color-printing, whereas, on the other hand, it is wellknown that printers ink will print better upon water-colors than uponplain paper.

When printing on paper, the striping-fountains are employed to applystripesin one or more water-colors to the paper, and the printing-rollsapply the designs or patterns of any suitable nature to the paper, allthe water color printing being eected before the impressions in ordinaryprinters ink are made on the paper over or between the water-colorimpressions; but in printing on fabric or jute material for manufactureinto bags it is not practicable or desirable to employ thestriping-fountains. Hence I propose to make the water-color-printingrolls with working faces which will apply the Water-colors in stripes,designs, trade-marks, or any other suitable or preferred matter to thefabric or jute material priorto the ordinary printers impression. Itwill therefore be understood that the rollers of the watercolor-printingmechanism may have working surfaces of any character. myself to be therst to provide a multicolorprinting mechanism in which impressions inwater-color of stripes, designs, or ornamental figures maybe made onpaper or bag material in advance of or prior to impressions in ordinaryprinters ink on the same material, the latter impression being made overor between the water-color ornamental impressions, and hence I desire toprotect such multicolorprinting mechanism, broadly, when used to applyimpressions in one or more colors to material in advance of the ordinaryprintersink impressions.

It has been explained that in printing on fabric, jute, or other likematerial it is not I believepracticable or desirable to employ thestriping-fountains, and under such conditions saidV only employed forcertain kinds of work, and

especially where very broad stripes are required, whereas thecolor-printing rollsare used for all other kinds of striping.

Changes may be made in the form of some of the parts, while theiressential features are retained and the spirit of the inventionembodied. Hence I do not desire to be limited to the precise form of allthe parts as shown, reserving the right to vary therefrom.

The water-color ink may be supplied to the inking-rolls for thedesign-printing rolls in any suitable Way, and as one means for feed`ing the water-color uniformly to said designrolls I employ one or morefeed-rolls 24, of the character shown by Figs. l and 10. This color-feedroll is represented by Fig. l0 as consisting of a suitable core having afabric jacket 24, wound or otherwise appliedzthereto, and said roller ismounted in the described way (by bearings) in the housing, so as todistribute and apply the water-color to the face of the design-printingroll. The water-color is supplied to the color-feed roll by a swab orother implement in the hands of the operator; but it is to be understoodthat I do not confine myself strictly to this particular way ofsupplying the water-color to the desi gn-printing rolls.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim isl. The combinationwith a printing-press, ofa multicolor-printing attachment embracing animpression-roll, a color-printing roll, cooperating with saidimpression-roll, independent color-striping mechanism interposed betweenthe color-printing roll and the printing devices of the press, tooperate upon the paper as it is fed to the latter, and meansforadjustingsaid independent color-striping mechanism to throw the same inand out of IOO IIO

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action without disturbing `the adjustment of I the color-printin g roll,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the printing mechanism and apaper-feed mechanismof a printing-press, of a plurality of independent striping-fountainsmounted on a common support to be adjustable simultaneously therewithand each fountain capable of a limited play and held under yieldabletension in active relation to the path of the paper web, substantiallyas described.

3. The combination with the printing mechanism and a paper-feedmechanism of an ordinary press, of a friction-roller adjacent to thepath of the paper web, a rock-shaft adjacent to the friction-roll, and aseries of striping-fountains supported by the rock-shaft to beadjustable therewith and each fountain equipped with a tension devicewhich yieldably supports a wiper in said fountain contiguous to the pathof the paper web, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the printing devices and paper-feed mechanism ofa printing-press, of a plurality of independent striping fountainsarranged in advance of the printing-press and mounted on a commonsupport, said fountains being capable of simultaneous adjustment, andeach having an independent limited play, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a printing mechanism and a paper-feed mechanism,of a colorstriping mechanism wholly independent of the printingmechanism and embracing a friction-roll, a series of independentfountains supported adjacent to said friction-roll, a series of fibrousWipers supported by the respective fountains in active relation to thepath of the paper web as it traverses the friction-roll, a tensiondevice for each fountain, and means for adjusting said fountains,substantially as described.

6. The combination with a printing mechanism and a paper-feed mechanismof an ordinary press, of a color-striping mechanism embracing the roll,a rock-shaft, a series of striping-fountains hung independently on saidshaft and each carrying a wiper which is presented in active relation tothe path of the paper web as it traverses said roll, tension devices bywhich the series of fountains are yieldingly held in active relation tothe roll, and means for simultaneously lifting the striping-fountainsfrom the path of the paper web, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the printing devices and paper-feed mechanism ofan ordinary press, of a multicolor mechanism embracing a series ofstriping-fountains and a revoluble color-printing roll, the latter beingoperatively connected with the printing dewhich has its active endcontiguous to the friction-roll, and a tension device carried by theshaft and operatively connected with the fountain to yieldingly pressthe wipers thereof on a paper web adapted to traverse the friction-roll,substantially as described.

10. The combination with a shaft and a roll, of a series of fountainseach having ahanger mounted loosely on the shaft, a tension-arm fixed tothe shaft adjacent to each fountainhanger, and a spring connecting thehanger and tension-arm, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a roll and a shaft,

of a series of fountains each having a hanger fitted loosely on theshaft, a tension arm clamped to said shaft adjacent to each hanger andnormally free from contact therewith to permit the fountain and hangerto have alimited rocking movement on the shaft, a tension-springconnecting the arm and hanger, and means for rocking the shaft wherebythe tension-arms may engage with the hangers to tilt the fountains awayfrom active relation to the roll, substantially as described. 12. Thecombination with a roll, of a rockshafthaving a lever-arm, a series offountains each carrying a wiper, a series of hangers rigid with thefountains, loosely fitted on the shaft and having the, stop-arm, atension arm clamped to the shaft adjacent to each of the hangers andnormally separated from the stoparm to permit the hanger and fountain tohave a limited play on said shaft, and a tensionspring connecting saidarm with the hanger, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a printing-press, of a multicolor mechanismcomprising a colorprinting roll, arranged in advance of theprinting-press, a plurality of striping-fountains arranged in the pathof the paper between sa-id roll and the printing devices of the press,and means for throwing the striping-fountains in and out of actionindependently of the color-printing roll, substantially as set forth.

14. In a multicolor-press, the combination with a printing mechanismincluding means for supplying ordinary printers ink thereto, of awater-color printing mechanism including printing and impression rollsarranged for joint operation to apply impressions in one or morewater-colors to the work in advance of the impressions in ordinary ink,and means for feeding the work from the water-color mechanismcontinuously to the ordinary printing mechanism, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto axed mysignature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN EDWARD CAPS.

Witnesses:

JNO. N. DAVIS, SAMUEL FELLER;

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